Hydraulic feeder device for workpieces of machine tools



E. MONNIER Dec; 17, 1963 HYDRAULIC FEEDERWEVICE FOR WORKPIECES -OF MACHINE T OOLSA Filed May 22, 1962 United States Patent O 3,114,464 HYDRAULKC FEEDER BEVECE FOR WRHPHEQES F MACHNE TLS Eugne M'onnier, Safnern, Switzerland, assigner to Fabrique de Machines Miliron SA., Bienne, Switzer- Band, a corporation of Switzerland Filed May 22, 1%2, Ser. No. @6,676 Claims priority, application Switzeriand May 24, 195i Claims. (Cl. 214-1) The present invention has for its object a hydraulic feeder device, more particularly for the setting in place of a workpiece to be machined on a machine-tool comprising a xed frame, integral with the machine-tool, in which a member is disposed oscillating between two distinct angular positions. rl`his oscillating member comprises two catcher members, one fixed and the other radially displaceable with respect to this oscillating member. The two catcher members are angularly spaced from each other, while the oscillating member and the mobile catcher member are hydraulically actuated, the former in its reciprocative angular movements and the latter in its rectilinear displacements.

The attached drawing shows schematically and by way of example one embodiment of the feeder device according to the invention.

FIG. l is an elevational view of this embodiment, partially in cross-section, the device being in its start or rest position.

PEG. 2 is another elevational view, partially in crosssection, the device being in its loading position.

FIG. 3 is a plan view, the device being in the position corresponding to the one illustrated at Fi-G. l, the mobile catcher member being in its position illustrated in dash lines.

The hydraulic feeder device shown comprises a frame ll integral with the machine-tool to be fed, an oscillating member 2 pivoted with respect to the frame l and a device for hydraulically actuating said oscillating member 2.

The frame ll comprises a charger 3 vertically disposed and intended to house pieces l to be machined. This charger is removably secured to the frame for example by means of a tightening member 5. A housing 6, presenting in transverse cross-section general shape of a sector of a circie, is provided inside the frame l.. This housing is intended to receive the oscillating member 2 when the .latter member is in its rest position. The lower frontal face 7 of the charger 3 is disposed tangentially with respect to this housing o.

The transverse cross section of the oscillating member Z has the general shape of a sector of a circle of about 90, the inner diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of the housing o. The oscillating member is pivoted around an axis 8 identical to the axis of revolution of the cylindrical surface surrounding this oscillating member.

This oscillating member 2 comprises a fixed catcher member constituted in the example shown by a bracket 9 and a flexible blade lil iixed by one of their extremities on the oscillating member, in such a way that their free extremities are located on the said cylindrical surrounding surface. YThe shape ot the bracket Si is such that it determines with the ilexible blade lo a housing lll intended to receive a non machined or rough piece 4i. rl`his housing is disposed, when the oscillating member 2 is located in the rest position, along the prolongation of the vertical axis of the charger 3.

The oscillating member 2 is also provided with another catcher member displaceable along a radius of said oscillating member. latter catcher member is constituted lldll Patented Ecc. l?, i953 ice in the example shown by a piston l2, displaceable inside a cylinder 13 against the action of a spring 1S. This cylinder i3 is alternatively connecter, through the intermediary of a duct passing inside the axis S and a `three way Valve, to a supply of fluid under pressure and to the discharge. This piston l2 carries a rod i4 provided with a clamp l5 presenting in transverse cross-section the general shape of a U. Gne of the wings lo of said clamp 1S is flexible. The distance separating the two wings of this clamp l5 is slightly less `than the diameter of a machined piece 17.

An abutment i9, integral with the frame l defines the angular rest position (FIG. l) of the oscillating member 2.

The device 4for actuating ythe oscillating member 2 comprises a cylinder 2@ disposed in the frame l, inside which a piston 2.1 moves. The lower extremity 22 of the piston fill co-operates with a lever 23 pivoted on the frame l and integral with a toothed sector 24, the `toothing of which is in mesh with a toothed Wheel 25 integral with the pivoting axis The cylinder 2@ is provided with an opening alternatively connected for example by means of a slide-valve, to a supply of iluid under pressure and to a discharge container.

A spring 2o tends to maintain the piston Z1 in a position such that the oscillating member will be in its rest position.

This hydraulic feeding device further comprises discharge means for discharging the machined pieces. These means are constituted, in the example illustrated by a conveyor, the band 27 of which is displaced in an intermittent way in the direction of the arrow f (at a rate of one forwarding step or pitch for each reciprocation of the piston 2l) by means of a mechanical linkage having only one direction of displacement. The aforementioned linkage is constituted for example by a wheel with ratching teeth 28 meshing with a pusher 29 carrying a toothing maintained by an elastic action in mesh with the wheel 28. This pusher is mechanically connected to the lever 23.

The feeder device described and illustrated in mounted by way of example, on a milling machine provided with two supporting members 3d, 5l for the retaining of the piece to be machined in its machining position on the milling machine. When the piece to be machined is clamped on the machine, it is situated over the milling cutter 32.

During the machining of a piece on a milling machine, the feeder device is in the rest position shown in FlG. 1. When the machining of the piece held in the supporting members Siti, 3l. is terminated, the following operations are effectuated:

(l) By actuating the three way valve, the cylinder 13 is set under pressure which causes the forwarding of the piston l2, and the displacement of the mobile catcher member from its position illustrated in full lines into its position illustrated in dashed lines (iFIG. l). 1in this lat- -ter position, the machined piece 7 hold by the supporting members is clamped between the two wings of the clamp 115.

(2) The machined piece 17 is freed from the supporting members Sil, 3l by an automatic device of knolwn type, not shown.

(3) @The feeding of the cylinder 113 is interrupted and it is then connected to the discharge by actuating the three way valve. The piston l2 returns to its rest position for which the clamp l5, taking the machined piece t7 along in its movement, is no longer located over the milling cutter 3,2.

(4) The slide-valve is actuated by any known means, 'not represented, order to feed the cylinder 2i? with iiuid runder pressure, which causes the downward dis- ',lacement of the piston 2i into its position illustrated in FIG. 2. This movement of the piston 2i causes, through the intermediary of the mechanical linkage 23, 24, 215, the rotation of the oscillating member by 90 and, through the intermediary of the mechanical linkage 23, 2S, 29, the forwarding of the conveyor.

After this displacement the oscillating member 2 is situated in its loading position, illustrated at FIG. 2. ln this position the ixed catcher member carrying a rough piece i to be machined is situated in such a way that it may be fixed on the machine by means of the supporting members 3G, 3i. tFurther in this position the wing d6 of the clamp d'5 of the displaceable catcher member is elastically displaced in the direction of the arrow g by means of an abutment 133 integral with the frame il, which releases the machined piece i7 so that it falls on the conveyor.

(5) The rough piece -4 is automatically held in the supporting members Sii, 3` in known manner.

(6) The cylinder 2t) is again connected to the discharge by actuating .the slide-valve. The piston 211 is returned to its rest position by the spring 25, which produces the rotation of the oscillating member 2 in the reverse direction :of 90 and puts it back in the rest position (FIG. l).

The piece 4 to be machined iixed in the supporting members is disengaged during this movement from the xed catcher member. In fact, this piece escapes the liexible blade l0. At the end of the movement the ixed catcher member is again located in front of the lower extremity of the charger 3 and a new piece 4 to be machined falls through `gravity into this fixed catcher member.

The same operations are repeated each time the ma- 'chining of a piece is terminated.

The hydraulical feeder device according to the invention enables the setting in place of a piece to be machined and simultaneouslythe withdrawal of a machined piece.

IFurther this device presents the great advantage to enable the automatic feeding of a machine-tool the cuttting-tool of lwhich is located under the piece to be machined.

One embodiment of `the device, object of the invention, has been described by way of example but it is to be understood that numerous variants of execution may be foreseen without departing from the scope of the protection claimed. Particularly, the realization and the shape given to both the fixed catcher member and the linearly displaceable catcher member could be, in variants, different. fln fact, the shape of these catcher members is dictated by the `shape of the piece being handled, and it is apparent that many realizations are possible without departing from the scope of the protection claimed.

I claim:

l. A hydraulic feeder and take-olf device for setting a workpiece in place on la machine Itool having a rotating spindle, said feeder device comprising a lixed frame integral with said machine tool, charging means and discharging means for said workpiece disposed adjacent said rotating spindle, an oscillating member angularly displaceable between two extreme angular positions, a iirst catcher member rigidly mounted on said oscillating member, a second catcher member carried by said oscillating member and angularly spaced apart from said lirst catcher member at 4an angle equal to the angle between `said two extreme angular positions, said second catcher member being radially displaceable with respect to said oscillating member between a retracted position and a forwarded position, said first catcher member registering with said charging means and said second catcher member registering with the axis of said spindle when said oscillating member is in one of said two extreme angu` .lar positions, said first ca thetr member registering with the axis of said spindle and said second catcher member registering with said discharging means when said oscillating member is in the other extreme angular position, and hydraulic actuating means for controlling the angular reciprocating movements of said oscillating member between said two extreme angular positions and the rectilinear reciprocating movements of said second catcher member between said retracted position and said forwarded position.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, Iwherein the angle between said two extreme angular positions of the oscillating member equals 'and the angular spacing of said iirst and said second catcher members is 90.

3. A hydraulic feeder and take-oti device for setting a workpiece in place on a machine tool having a rotating le, said feeder device comprising a fixed frame integral with said machine tool, charging means and discharging means for said workpiece disposed adjacent said rotating spiidle, an oscillating member angularly dist: cable oT-weon two extreme angular positions, a rst catcher member rigidly mounted on said oscillating member and arranged to carry a rough, nonmachined workpie-ce, said first catcher member comprising a rigid bracket and a ilexibie blade together forming a housing for said rough workpiece, said flexible blade applying an eiastic pressure to the rough workpiece located in said housing to retain it therein, a second catcher member carried by said oscillating member and angularly spaced apart from said iirst catcher member at an angle equal to the angle between said two extreme angular positions, said second catcher member being radially displaceable with respect to said oscilating member between a retracted position a forwarded position, said second catcher member comprising a clamp with a U-shaped forni, one wing of said clamp being elastically displaceable to retain a machined workpiece therein by elastic pressure, said iirst catcher member registering with said charging means and said second catcher member registering with the axis of said spindle when said oscillating member is in one of wo extreme angular positions, said tirst catcher member registering with the axis of said spindle and said second catcher member registering with said discharging means when said oscillating member is in the other extreme angular position, and hydraulic actuating means for controlling the angular reciprocating movements of said osciiiating member between said two extreme angular positions and the rectilinear reciprocating movements of said second catcher member between said retracted position and said forwarded position.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said discharging means comprises an abutment means for releasing the elastic pressure of said clamp upon said machined workpiece and a hydraulically actuated conveyor carrying the released machined workpiece away from said machine tool.

5. A hydraulic feeding and take-off device for setting workpieces in place upon a machine tool having a r0- tatable spindle, said device comprising a fixed frame integral with the machinel tool, charging means for pro viding rough, nonmachined workpieces, discharging cans for removing the machined workpieces, an oscillating member angularly reciprocatcd between two predetermined spaced positions, two catcher members carried by said oscillating member and separated from each other at an angle equal to the angular' spacing of said predetermined positions, means for rigidly mounting one of said catcher members on said oscillating member, means for displacing the other Catcher member radially with respect to said oscillating member between a retracted position and a forwarded position, said other catcher member thereby displacing machined workpieces away from the axis of said spindle, and hydraulic means for rotating said oscillating member from one of said p0- sitions to its other position in which the next rough workpiece is positioned on the axis of said spindle while the workpiece just machined is simultaneously transported to said discharging means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Brooks July 16, 1889 

1. A HYDRAULIC FEEDER AND TAKE-OFF DEVICE FOR SETTING A WORKPIECE IN PLACE ON A MACHINE TOOL HAVING A ROTATING SPINDLE, SAID FEEDER DEVICE COMPRISING A FIXED FRAME INTEGRAL WITH SAID MACHINE TOOL, CHARGING MEANS AND DISCHARGING MEANS FOR SAID WORKPIECE DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID ROTATING SPINDLE, AN OSCILLATING MEMBER ANGULARLY DISPLACEABLE BETWEEN TWO EXTREME ANGULAR POSITIONS, A FIRST CATCHER MEMBER RIGIDLY MOUNTED ON SAID OSCILLATING MEMBER, A SECOND CATCHER MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID OSCILLATING MEMBER AND ANGULARLY SPACED APART FROM SAID FIRST CATCHER MEMBER AT AN ANGLE EQUAL TO THE ANGLE BETWEEN SAID TWO EXTREME ANGULAR POSITIONS, SAID SECOND CATCHER MEMBER BEING RADIALLY DISPLACEABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID OSCILLATING MEMBER BETWEEN A RETRACTED POSITION AND A FORWARDED POSITION, SAID FIRST CATCHER MEMBER REGISTERING WITH SAID CHARGING MEANS AND SAID SECOND CATCHER MEMBER REGISTERING WITH THE AXIS OF SAID SPINDLE WHEN SAID OSCILLATING MEMBER IS IN ONE OF SAID TWO EXTREME ANGULAR POSITIONS, SAID FIRST CATCHER MEMBER REGISTERING WITH THE AXIS OF SAID SPINDLE AND SAID SECOND CATCHER MEMBER REGISTERING WITH SAID DISCHARGING MEANS WHEN SAID OSCILLATING MEMBER IS IN THE OTHER EXTREME ANGULAR POSITION, AND HYDRAULIC ACTUATING MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE ANGULAR RECIPROCATING MOVEMENTS OF SAID OSCILLATING MEMBER BETWEEN SAID TWO EXTREME ANGULAR POSITIONS AND THE RECTILINEAR RECIPROCATING MOVEMENTS OF SAID SECOND CATCHER MEMBER BETWEEN SAID RETRACTED POSITION AND SAID FORWARDED POSITION. 